Plastic Model Airplane Kit

1/48 Scale Tamiya #TAM61016. In the summer of 1937 Japan started action against China and threw into the front a great number of the newest planes which Japan had created with their original ideas and technique. Concerning fighters in particular, Japan had abandoned biplane type which was counted as the common sense of the then world and already employed the Type 96 Carrier Fighter (96 Kansen) that Japan had produced on the basis of many pieces of new technique and ideas such as all-metal, internally braced low wing monoplane design and the engine cowling designed to reduce air resistance. 96 Kansens always successfully engaed with I-15 and I-16 fighters and SB-2 bombers of Russian make as well as Gladiator fighters of

Plastic Model Airplane Kit

1/48 Scale Tamiya #TAM61017. In 1939, the Naval Aviation Headquarters conceived a plan of trial manufacturing a floatplane fighter, a new type beyond all precedents in the world. On the assumption of landing and invading the Southern regions, the Japanese Navy intended in those days to station float planes in waterways and bays near the landing places until the completion of land air bases for the purpose of defending those under construction and occupied territories. Since the floatplanes might have to fight with enemy fighters in the air, they were required to be pure fighters comparing favourably with enemy fighters in performance. The Navy firmly believed that sufficiently armed floatplanes would be able to fight on

Plastic Model Airplane Kit

1/48 Scale Tamiya #TAM61018. In September 1939, aircraft manufacturers Nakajima and Mitsubishi received an unofficial order to trial-manufacture the Raiden, the Japanese Navy's first interceptor (a fighter to undertake the air defence of land bases). It was finally decided, however, that the development and trial-manufacture of the Raiden should be conducted only by Mitsubishi. It was in April of 1940 that the plane was designated "14-Shi Interceptor (J2M1)" and official requirements were set out by the Navy. The requirements gave priority to climbing power, maximum speed and high altitude performance. Aircraft engines of those days that could meet all these requirements were only the air-cooled engine "Kasei" type 11 t

Plastic Model Airplane Kit

1/48 Scale Tamiya #TAM61013. A plane which since July 1932 the Nakajima Aircraft Mfg. Company had designed and manufactured for trial under the name of KI-84 was officially adopted in April 1944 by the Army as the Fighter Type 4 "Hayate" and the mass production was started. The number of the Hayate produced by the end of World War II totaled about 3,500 which ranks next to that of the Zero and the Hayabusa but is the largest in the Japanese aircraft history in view of the number produced in about a year. The performance of the Hayate was equal to, or higher than that of the Allies' fighters of those days. This was the first fighter worthy of the name having excellent speed (climbing ability), firepower and maneuverabili

Plastic Model Airplane Kit

1/48 Scale Tamiya #TAM61028. The appearance of the A-10 is remarkable while its performance is amazing. Known affectionately as the "Wart Hog" by its pilots, it's a large single seat aircraft, identified by a pair of TF-34-100A high bypass fan jet engines mounted high near the rear of the twin tailed fuselage. A few of the specifications are: Length 53' 4"; height 14'8", span 57'6"; maximum gross weight 47,400lbs, including 16,000lbs of external stores. Internal armament is the GAU-8/A 30mm Gatling cannon capable of 2100 or 4200 rounds per minute. It carries 1350 rounds of ammunition, a fire control head-up display, CRT TV monitor, laser spot seeker plus a diversified armament panel that can facilitate any operational n

Plastic Model Airplane Kit

1/48 Scale Tamiya #TAM61025. First flight was on 1 April 1939 and combat trials were concluded in July 1940 with 15 pre-production A6M2's sent to two squadrons by the end of the month. These aircraft had folding wing tips to accommodate aircraft carrier elevators, and were the ones first seen by Gen. Chennault in China, and at Pearl Harbor in December 1941. Although the A6M2 met or exceeded original design specifications, modifications were taking place at the Mitsubishi factory to improve roll rate, speed up handling aboard carriers, and utilize the uprated Sakae 21, 1,130 hp engine. The first A6M3 type 32 (code named HAMP) took to the air on 15 July 1941 with production beginning in April 42. A total of 343 aircraft w

Plastic Model Airplane Kit

1/48 Scale Tamiya #TAM61027. Total production of the Type 52 series consisted of 10,449 aircraft of which Nakajima produced 6,570. It first entered combat in August 1943 at a time when the Japanese forces were withdrawing from previously held islands in the South Pacific. The type 52c was the last of the A6M5 series, and the most effective against Allied aircraft due to its armament configuration three of 13mm machine guns and two 20mm cannons. A total of 93 Type 52 and 52b zeros were field modified to "c" weapons configuration. The 7.7mm machine guns, housed in the cowling of the Zero since its first introduction, proved to be less effective during the latter stages of the conflict, due to the heavier armor protection

Plastic Model Airplane Kit

1/48 Scale Tamiya #TAM61026. The Hawker Siddeley Harrier astounded the world with its unique ability to take-off and land vertically utilizing vectored thrust from its powerful 8000kg thrust engine. First tested in concept in 1960, the aircraft went through many periods of testing and modification prior to acceptance by the Royal Air Force and other nations in 1974. The production Harriers utilized either a Pegasus 6 or 11 engine of 8000 or 9750kg thrust and it was only natural that the Royal Navy should find application for this type of aircraft with their fleet air arm. Various political and financial considerations delayed the order for the "Navalized" Harrier until May 1975, when the Admiralty ordered an initial 24

Plastic Model Airplane Kit

1/48 Scale Tamiya #TAM61070. In June 1942, the F4U-1 production models made their maiden flight. However, due to their restricted forward field of view, and because of a propeller wash effect caused them to stall left wing first during low speed landings, they first were used as land based fighters. Succeeding the F4U-1 in the summer of 1943 was the F4U-1A, which was equipped with an extended rear wheel landing gear shaft, a slightly modified glazed canopy, and a small triangular strip of metal bolted to the right leading edge of the wing to equalize the stall and avoid the roll to the left at touch-down. .